JOIN USSeven wards of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) have been identified by the expert committee on National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) as very high risk areas for malaria.
The areas are categorised based on annual parasite index (API) per 1,000 persons. If the API is above five, then it is classified as very high risk area.
The wards are Derebail West, Derebail South-West, Kadri North, Central Market, Kankanady, Attavara and Jeppu. The committee has declared six wards as high risk areas. They are Derebail North, Court, Kadri Padavu, Bendoor, Kankanady Valencia and Bolara.
Expressing concern over increase in malaria cases in Mangalore and Udupi, NVBDCP in-charge Additional Director Dr Prakash said that there is a need for fortnightly surveillance of malaria in very high risk and high risk areas. Specific action plan is needed for each ward to check sources of vector-borne diseases.
As on July, 2014, a total of 4,271 malaria and 95 dengue cases have been reported in Dakshina Kannada district, while in Udupi district, 947 malaria and 36 dengue cases have been reported.
“We have to aim at reducing malaria morbidity and prevent deaths due to malaria in DK and Udupi. The authorities should list out all the ongoing construction sites and ensure that no mosquitoes breed on the stagnated water in the site.” Dr Prakash said there is a need to register labour population at construction site to track the labourers and to check transmission of the diseases.
The officials should ensure that nets are supplied to all the labourers at the construction sites. There is a need to train the sprayers to spray properly to destroy sources of mosquito breeding centres. Many a time, the sprayers engage in spraying only one floor of the construction site and allowing the mosquitoes to breed on other floors.
He said that a circular should be sent to all the hospitals, clinics and hostels to use window mesh and mosquito nets compulsorily. The Wenlock Hospital can send a proposal for window mesh.
Scientist and Officer in charge of ICMR in Karnataka Dr S K Ghosh said the health department is gearing up to train lab technicians in DK district to bring down the number of vector-borne diseases.
The district contributes about 70 per cent of malaria cases reported in the state. Owing to increase in malaria cases in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, the entire state is going back from the elimination stage of malaria.
Initiate action
When MCC-in-charge Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak disclosed that 27 medical establishments are not reporting cases of malaria, dengue etc, DC directed the MCC to take action including suspension of licence of such hospitals/clinics. Udupi DHO Dr Ramachandra Bairy, Wenlock DMO Dr Rajeshwari Devi were present.